It's that time of the year again when Santa faces, Christmas stars and green hollies color our dreams. Enter Mapusa local market and the cheer of the season sweeps you in. Christmas music swirls you and warms the cockles of your heart. The sight of the endless array of wares makes even the dullest person enthusiastic. I was struck by the striking colors that hit me as soon as I entered the market and needless to say the music made me mushy. Crochet work in different colors and especially in Christmas colors made…Read more

Episode 4 - Dream-catchers, Bonhomie and Goodbyes Meghna was very keen on experiencing the spice plantations down South and they had hired Appu, the friendly cabbie who Adrian has had in his roster for years together. While they set out for their day trip we found our way to the beaches. I (A Guest of The Only Olive in Jan 2015) joined Neera half-hearted more to give her company than for my own benefit. I would have rather lazed at the villa munching on peanuts and guzzling glasses of the sweet well water. But…Read more

Episode 3 - Friends!!! The January chill fell lustily on us and the ceiling fans were not required. In the stillness of the quiet village with its peaceful inhabitants around, I (A Guest of The Only Olive in Jan 2015) shut my mind to the regular humdrum of life. Can't remember how long Neera and I sat in the flawless beauty of the night before I heard a crackling laughter and the fleeting mayhem of shuffling feet and travel-weary luggage in apartment in Goa for holidays at The Only Olive. It was Meghna Thakur…Read more

Episode 2 – The Backyard As Neera unwrapped her life happenings since we last met through the unapologetic wrinkles in her face we wended our way back to The Only Olive. We decided we’re going to bury our everyday existence for two days in the attic of The Only Olive – we so wanted to unwind and I (A Guest of The Only Olive in Jan 2015) could not believe this house with its quiet majestic roof and walls was just so like a mother’s womb – a perfect hideout till you were…Read more

Episode - 1 "The Riverside" Neera was one of the few with whom I (A Guest of The Only Olive in Jan 2015) got along pretty nicely without having to think what smart thing to say next, when as a young and unsure resident teacher for Korean students I lived in Chennai ten years back. So when Neera and I got a chance to get together after a long hiatus in Aldona’s most beautiful property The Only Olive a Portuguese Style Villa in Goa, it was like what Walt Whitman said: “We were together.…Read more

The Only Olive is situated on a hillock with lovely views of the surrounding village. This is the only village caromed by rivers on all three sides and that too in the shape of a horse shoe. The riverside has been the personal favourite of many a traveller here. It’s bliss to visit this segment of the Mapusa river which is a tributary of the Mandovi river. It’s a very short walk off the villa and the morning air is crisp with the lovely green foliage and beckoning serenity around.Read more

In and Around

The Only Olive is situated on a hillock with lovely views of the surrounding village. This is the only village caromed by rivers on all three sides and that too in the shape of a horse shoe. The riverside has been the personal favourite of many a traveller here. It’s bliss to visit this segment of the Mapusa river which is a tributary of the Mandovi river. It’s a very short walk off the villa and the morning air is crisp with the lovely green foliage and beckoning serenity around.

The vicinity has the densest variety of birds and butterflies. It’s a sheer delight for bird watchers.
Experience how you could bottle up time as you sit by the river side angling with the breeze pecking you all over. So be it angling or crab spotting or trailing the golden green path of fireflies in the night The Olive is the perfect choice for the romantic, explorer, traveller in you.
No wonder the area has drawn the literati in an unending love story. Many writers and artists have taken this place as their home!

This could be one of Aldona’s premium properties by the very virtue of fact that it offers a ringside view of the best local culture and fare it can provide you with. We just got lucky with the property and its location, on a personal note :)
The local market Tinto’s has a pharmacy and a horde of stores and small eat outs for simple living. Sebros bakery has been offering local made Goan sweets like bebinca, dodol for nearly 25 years now!
Tinto, the market place, also has a bar providing you with some of the best tasting feni.
Gokuldas Naik’s family makes and sells some Indian snacks and savouries (chakries and chudas) which are very popular and are a huge hit with The Olive guests. And Adrian says right behind The Olive there’s an Aunty who sells some “unbelievably” delicious sweets!

The famous BAO is close by at walking distance just short of the Corjeum bridge. This provides the most delicious local Goan thali and sea food and meat delicacies. It’s a must try.
Andron is at Nachinola around two kms away and is again the best eat out for authentic Goan fare. The pork and sea food preps are delicious. Do not miss Tony’s hospitality!